Downtown apartment fire claims one victim

A fire that erupted in a building at the corner of South 1st and Sycamore Streets around midnight Tuesday claimed one woman's life. Fire officials believe the fire that began in an apartment above Art's Custom Center was started accidentally.

A 41-year-old woman who lived in an apartment above Art's Custom Center on South First Street died in the fire which erupted shortly after midnight Tuesday. Fire department officials believe the blaze was started accidentally.

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News An Abilene firefighter looks on as the roof of a building on South 1st Street catches fire. A 41-year-old woman who lived in an apartment above Art's Custom Center died in the fire which erupted shortly after midnight Tuesday. Fire department officials believe the blaze was started accidentally.

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News Flames erupt from the roof of a building on South 1st Street. The fire is believed to have started accidentally in an apartment above Art's Custom Center. A 41-year-old woman, the only occupant of the apartment, died in the fire.

Firefighters on Ladder 5 fight the blaze from Sycamore Street early Tuesday morning. A fire erupted in an apartment above Art's Custom Center on South 1st Street. A woman living in the apartment died in the fire, which officials believe began accidentally.

Abilene firefighters look on as a crew from Ladder 5 sprays water on the roof a building on South 1st Street.

An Abilene firefighter dons his protective gear before entering a burning building early Tuesday morning. The fire, which broke out in an apartment over Art's Custom Center on South 1st Street, claimed one woman's life.

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News An Abilene firefighter uses a hose to spray water into the window of an apartment above Art's Custom Center early Tuesday morning.

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News Firefighters from Ladder 1 spray water on the roof of a burning building on South 1st Street early Tuesday morning.

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News A team of firefighters prepares to climb the stairs that lead to an apartment over Art's Custom Center. A fire broke out in the apartment shortly after midnight Tuesday, and claimed one woman's life.

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News Flames spew from an opening near the roof of the burning building on South 1st Street.

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News

Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News Firefighters look on as water is sprayed on the burning building on South 1st Street.